Windy City ThunderBolts Baseball HIres Morgan Burkhart as Field Manager for 2012

The Windy City ThunderBolts announced that Morgan Burkhart will take over as Field Manager for the 2012 season.  Burkhart takes over for Mike Kashirsky who managed the Bolts the last two seasons.

Burkhart spent the last three seasons managing the Calgary Vipers of the new North American Baseball League.

The Windy City ThunderBolts are an independent baseball team that is located in Crestwood Illinois.

Illinois State University Baseball High School Showcase October 29th

Illinois State University baseball will hold a High School Showcase on October 29th, 2011 at Duffy Bass Field in Normal Illinois.  High school players entering the 9th - 12th grades are eligible.  The showcase will run from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Players will go through a "pro-style" workout in the morning and play a game in the afternoon.  Players will also receive a t-shirt and lunch.

For more information click on the link below.

Illinois State High School Showcase Camp

Eureka Names James Clark as Head Baseball Coach

Eureka Athletic Director Paul Bryant announced James Clark as the new baseball head coach recently.  Clark comes to Eureka after two years at Spoon River after going 8-45 at Spoon River in 2011 and 5-32 in 2010.

Clark takes over for Greg Gerdes who retired last spring after two seasons and a 11-32 record.  Looks like Eureka will continue with tradition.

Kim "Hoss" Johnson Retires at McHenry County College Baseball



Kim "Hoss" Johnson announced his retirement after serving 14 years as head baseball coach at McHenry County College Baseball in Illinois.  Johnson coached the Scots from 1992-1996 and again from 2001-2011.

"Hoss" Johnson

Johnson earned the NJCAA Region 4 Coach of the Year in 1996 as his squad won the Region 4 Title and the Skyway Conference Championship.  Kim also worked as the MCC Athletics Recruiter along with being the Head Baseball Coach at McHenry.

Stepping in as Head Coach is Associate Head Coach Jared Waker.  Waker is also employed at McHenry County College as an enrollment processor and currently as the Admissions Coordinator.

 



McKendree Baseball's Dinkelmann Earns September Call up With Twins

Former McKendree University baseball player Brian Dinkelman earned a September call-up to the bigs with the Minnesota Twins earlier this month and has shown well since.

Dinkelman, a Centralia Illinois native, has hit .324 in 68 at bats since being called up.  Brian still holds 24 McKendree Bearcat records along with five NAIA records.

Len Asquini Re-takes Over for St. Charles East Baseball

St. Charles East High School announced Friday that Len Asquini will lead the baseball program again.  Asquini, who takes over for Dave Haskins who quietly snuck over to Romeoville High School after only two years at East, complied a 224-88 record from 1996-2003 at St. Charles East.  Asquini's Saints also won the 1999 Class AA state championship, six regional and two sectionals.

Asquini also won coach of the year honors in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2002.

University of Illinois Springfield Baseball Coach Resigns after First Season

University of Illinois Springfield baseball coach Brian Grunzke announced his resignation after one season with the Prairie Stars.  Grunzke has moved on to take the assistant baseball coach position at South Dakota State. 

The Prairie Stars went 8-35 in their first season at the Division II level.

Currently the University of Illinois Springfield is still searching for a new head baseball coach. 

Joliet Slammers Baseball Wins Frontier League Championship

The Joliet Slammers captured their first Frontier League Championship with a 6-5 victory over the River City Rascals last Sunday night.

Rain forced the game to start 43 minutes late and also delayed the game before restarting in the fourth inning at 9:05 pm.

Joliet scored three in the fifth and three more in the seventh to take a 6-4 lead into the eighth inning. 

Reliever of the year Ryan Quigley pitched the ninth and recorded his fifth save of the postseason.

Brad Netzel, who graduated from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, was named the championship Most Valuable Player.

Gateway Grizzlies Baseball Hold Fall Tryout on October 1st

The Gateway Grizzlies will hold their annual fall tryout on Saturday October 1st 2011 at 8:00 am.  Cost of the tryout is $50.00 and the player cannot turn 27 years old before January 1st 2012.  The tryout will be held at GSC Ballpark in Sauget Illinois.  Registration starts at 7:00 am.

The Gateway Grizzlies are an Independent professional baseball team that competes in the Frontier League.

For more information click on the link below.

Gateway Grizzlies Fall Tryout

Bradley Baseball's Leblebijian and Nasshan Named to Top Prospects in Their Summer Baseball Leagues

Bradley University Baseball players Jason Leblebijian and John Nasshan were both named as some of the top prospects in their collegiate summer baseball leagues.

John Nasshan(Niles West, Niles, Illinois) was voted the #9 overall prospect by Baseball American in the Jayhawk League.  The right handed pitcher went 3-2 with a 3.14 ERA for the El Dorado Broncos this past summer.

Shortstop Jason Leblebijian(Prospect, Arlington Heights, Illinois) was ranked as the 41st amoung the top 75 pro prospects in the Northwoods League by Perfect Game USA.  Leblebijian batted .279 with 7 home runs and 37 rbi's for the Wimar Stingers last summer.

City of Zion Wants to Kick Out Lake County Fielders

Zion officials say they want the Lake County Fielders out of their city.

According to city officials the Lake County Fielders baseball club did not pay rent in 2010 and did not pay rent at all in 2011.  The team has played over 20 times in Zion and refused to pay the city.

Normal CornBelters Fire Manager Hal Lanier

The Normal CornBelters announced that they will not be renewing the contract of field manger Hal Lanier after a 46-50 finish in the 2011 season.  In two seasons Lanier led the CornBelters to a 90-102 record.

General Manager Steve Mallet based his decision on much higher expectations and believes the talent pool of players grew significantly this season. 

Baseball in Illinois does not have information on who within the organization is responsible for drafting and signing players.

The CornBelters are an independent professional baseball team that plays in Normal, Illinois.

Former University of Illinois Baseball Player Kyle Hudson Called up by Orioles

Kyle Hudson was called up to the Major Leagues with the Orioles on September 1st after hitting .296 this season in the minors.

Kyle is a former University of Illinois baseball alum who was selected in the fourth round of the 2008 MLB Draft.  Klye is from Mattoon Illinois.

Lewis University Baseball Adds Seven More for 2012

Lewis University Head Baseball Coach Tim McDonough announced the addition of seven players to the 2012 Flyers roster.

RHP Mike Devoe from Cary-Grove, Cary Illinois

Outfielder Kane Lombardo from Nazareth, Forest Park Illinois

LHP/IF Michael Schroeder from Triton College, Crown Point IN

LHP Philip Warner from St. Charles North, South Elgin Illinois

RHP Dylan Cysewski from Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake Illinois

LHP Brad Freeman from Durban, South Africa

RHP Kegan Banks from Dripping Springs Texas

Northwestern Baseball Alum George Kontos Promoted to Majors

Former Northwestern baseball player and Niles West high school alum George Kontos was promoted to the Major Leagues last week with the New York Yankees. 

The right handed pitcher made his debut against the Angels on September 10th throwing one and a third giving up two hits, one earned run and striking out two.

Eastern Illinois University Fall Baseball Showcase

Eastern Illinois University will hold a fall baseball showcase for high school athletes on Saturday October 15th, 2011.

The morning session will provide instruction from the Eastern Illinois University coaching staff followed by a game in the afternoon session.  The showcase will run from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Cost of the showcase is $100.  For a brochure click on the link below.

Eastern Illinois Fall Baseball Showcase

Southern Illinois Miners Baseball Offers Free Tickets for Military Personnel

The Southern Illinois Miners will offer free tickets to military personnel, firefighters, law enforcement officials and EMT workers and first responders as well as their families at the September 11th playoff game against the River City Rascals.  "This is a small thank you to the men and women who work every day and protect us" said Miners Exec Erik Haag.

The Miners first home playoff game will be on Saturday September 10th at Rent One Park. 

The Southern Illinois Miners are an independent professional baseball team in the Frontier League.

Palos Heights Illinois Native Greg Billo Pitches Kane County to Playoff Win

Greg Billo pitched seven shutout innings for the Kane County Cougars in their first round playoff game win against Burlington last night.  Billo gave up three hits and struck out seven on 83 pitches last night.  The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the the best of three opening round of the Midwest League Playoffs with a 4-0 victory.

Billo was a 28th round draft pick in 2008 and signed out of Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park Illinois.

Joliet Catholic's Joe Benson Joins Twins against Chicago White Sox

Joe Benson made his Major League Baseball debut on Monday going 0-3 against the Chicago White Sox.  Benson, a Joliet and Hinsdale Illinois native, played high school baseball at Joliet Catholic High School.  Benson was promoted from Double-A New Britain after batting .285 with 28 doubles, 4 triples and 16 home runs.  Joe was selected in the 2nd round of the 2006 MLB Draft in 2006.